Arsenal vs. Sunderland: 5 Reasons the Gunners Will Win on Saturday

Arsenal is just three points out of fourth place. Their direct competitors for that coveted position will surely cough up more points before the season's out (although knowing Arsenal they probably will, too). The Gunners head to Wearside on Saturday to face a new-look Sunderland side managed by Northern Ireland native Martin O'Neill.

It's been almost four months since the teams last met, and now they will meet twice over the course of a week. They play an FA Cup fifth round match on the 18th, with both games taking place at the Stadium of Light.

Last time, Arsenal defeated a resilient Sunderland outfit managed by Steve Bruce 2-1 at the Emirates. Robin van Persie played the role of savior by supplying a crucial brace.

His second goal—an unstoppable free kick—bested Sebastien Larsson's (a former Arsenal academy product) own spot kick effort, which had drawn the Black Cats level at 1-1.

New boss O'Neill made a point of stressing Arsenal's danger as a team, and dismissed accounts that they are a one-man outfit (via ESPN).

"They have qualified once again into the latter stages of the competition, so I am not so sure that one man could just carry that on his own," O'Neill said in the Soccernet article.

"They have talent, they have a bit of pace in their team as well, and their victory last week will give them encouragement and confidence for the rest of the season."

The former Aston Villa boss has led Sunderland on an impressive run of late, with the Black Cats losing just twice in their past 13 matches.

Arsenal come into Saturday's fixture brimming with confidence, having dispatched a hapless Blackburn side 7-1 last Saturday at home. The win eviscerated a muddlesome run of league form, saw the Gunners glean just a solitary point from their past four outings.

Despite on-loan striker Nicklas Bendtner—who's always good for a quote or two—unable to play for Sunderland due to conflict of interest, the match nonetheless holds promise.

Arsenal had a rough go of it on recent trips to the Stadium of Light—conceding a last-gasp winner (the Gunners lost 1-0) in 2009 has still not evaporated. Yet, there are considerable reasons for optimism ahead of this trip.

Here's five reasons the Gunners should grab three points from the proceedings.

A Motivated Robin Van Persie

After being linked with a move to Real Madrid by Spanish newspaper Marca, Robin van Persie moved quickly to dismiss claims that he would be open to a move to the Galacticos. He released a statement on Twitter that the interview released in the article "never took place."

Newspapers releasing questionable information? In this day and age? I would never...

Arsene Wenger also slammed the report via MirrorFootball, saying that Spanish newspapers are often "more clever" in drumming up sensationalist stories than their English counterparts.

Arsenal fans' fears may not yet be allayed that Van Persie's Spanish recruitment will become a sort of "Cesc 2.0." After seeing the former captain linked with a move to boyhood club Barcelona for the better part of two years, they should rest assured of a couple things (via CaughtOffside).

Van Persie has never been one to partake in speculation. Instead, he is continually reaffirming his commitment to his club of eight years. There are few in football who are more devoted to their clubs.

At present, there's nothing to be done about his future—his contract ends in 2013. We'll certainly have a better idea of where the situation is headed by the time summer rolls around.

For now, the prospect of a Van Persie ready to show his commitment to the Arsenal cause must have Sunderland's defense (here's looking at you, John O'Shea), quaking in their composite-covered boots.

Van Persie was absolutely sensational against the Black Cats back in October.

His two goals could easily have been four, and he narrowly missed out on a sumptuous chipped effort over keeper Simon Mignolet that easily would have been in the running for Goal of the Year. (He seems to have a sweet tooth for that kind of attempt, doesn't he?)

He has been the linchpin to the Gunners' side all season. In fact, at times he's been the last suture holding the side together. This match should see him at his industrious best. No Arsenal fan would begrudge him the opportunity to kiss the badge, either.

After all, that would signify he'd scored a goal.

A Rapidly-Blossoming Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went from not even making the substitutes' list the last time these two teams played, to being singled out as a major attacking threat by the opposition's manager just four months later. That is nothing short of remarkable, but it does provide a fitting encapsulation of just how meteoric 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain's rise has been for Arsenal in recent weeks.

In Soccernet's preview ahead of Saturday's match, Martin O'Neill had this to say about the young English winger:

"I saw him play a couple of weeks ago against Leeds United in the FA Cup and I was really impressed with him."

"He's very, very strong, he is very quick, he seems to know what it's all about and, for one so young, he looks as if he has got a real future ahead of him."

When he's not brushing up on his mastery of Nicki Minaj songs—someone tell him his career in football should be enough to set him off financially without an attempt at cracking the prize money of Britain's Got Talent—Oxlade-Chamberlain has been the revelation of the past month of Premier League football.

The power that O'Neill mentioned has been on frequent display for Arsenal fans, who have seen this wunderkind (remember, he only made his full Premier League debut three weeks ago), flummox opposing defenses with his determination and attacking instincts in the goalmouth area.

He took his two goals against Blackburn last weekend superbly, and he has shown an impressive understanding of attacking build-up as well. His distribution is certainly not the bread and butter of his game, but it is an underrated asset.

Apart from Van Persie, he has been the most consistent performer in attack for Arsenal for almost a month now.

Look for him to continue that trend tomorrow.

Controlling the Midfield

Arsenal's midfield has seemed in flux in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta's muscle injury first allowing Tomas Rosicky back into the first team fold. The Czech international then took Aaron Ramsey's place in attacking midfield last weekend against Blackburn in order to give the young Welshman a much needed rest.

Will Ramsey take back his place at Sunderland? Probably, but I hope Wenger opts for Rosicky instead, in a midfield three of Song-Arteta-Rosicky.

The diminutive Czech seems to have an added bit of technical ability to Ramsey, which allows him to link up play in the attacking third more effectively.

To his credit, Rosicky has made the most of this recent opportunity, and has produced impressive performances.

His power has diminished—likely the long-term effect of a series of crippling injuries over his Arsenal career—but he still looks the part of a decisive player in midfield. His experience could prove crucial at the Stadium of Light.

Kieran Gibbs' Return at Left-Back Means Thomas Vermaelen Can Move to the Center

Kieran Gibbs is certainly a talent at left-back, but the young man appears more brittle than (insert clever quip here).

That being said, his return in defense, coupled with Bacary Sagna's own return last week, means Arsenal have two full-back specialists for the first time since playing Olympiakos away on Dec. 6 (via Arsenal.com).

Gibbs, like Sagna, gives Arsenal an extra attacking threat. He enjoys making runs down the flank with vigor, but his greatest contribution might be allowing Thomas Vermaelen—who has deputized as a left-back since returning from his own injury last month—to slide back to his preferred position as a center back.

A back four of Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen and Gibbs is enough to make any Gunners fan's pulse quicken. While it may take time for all four to get back on the same page (and in Sagna and Gibbs's cases, to return to full match fitness), that lineup is decidedly superior to any other Arsenal can produce.

For all the stick Per Mertesacker has gotten this season, and some of it has been rather harsh (you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who gives more on-field effort for the club), the German does look somewhat off the Premier League pace.

Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny has been a revelation in defense for Arsenal this season. And, given Vermaelen as a partner in central defense, the defense instantly becomes a more mobile unit.

The Allure of Momentum

It's been difficult to come by in recent weeks, despite several indications that Arsenal were ready to launch upon runs of form.

Thierry Henry's goal against Leeds on Jan. 9 would have been the perfect launching pad for an extended run of results, but the Gunners went on to win only one of their next five matches (all competitions), before waxing Blackburn 7-1 last weekend.

Henry is now scheduled to return to New York Red Bulls on Feb. 16 (via Guardian). (Arsenal tried unsuccessfully to extend his loan deal.) Saturday's fixture at the Stadium of Light will likely be the last time he suits up for a Premier League match in the Arsenal red and white.

Last Saturday's win is securely in the bag, and Arensel have a vital week ahead of them. After Saturday, Arsenal face AC Milan in the Champions League Round of 16 in midweek before returning to Wearside for the afore-mentioned FA Cup fixture.

What better way to begin Henry's farewell party than with a second win in as many matches? (Henry can play in the Milan match.)

It will be a plucky tie, but there's no reason why Arsenal can't see this one through. Another 2-1 victory over the Black Cats is no stretch of the imagination.